Just Diagnosed
Fistulas and Crohn's Disease: What Makes Them Different (And Harder)
Why Crohn's fistulas are harder: the two-front fight with your gut, why setons stay in longer, cautious surgery, and recurrence. What patients actually report
Adam G.
Fistula patient since 2022. Four surgeries, two setons, and one failed fistulotomy later, I built the recovery resource I wish had existed when I was diagnosed.
Real Talk
Flying and Traveling With a Seton: It's Easier Than You Think
Flying or traveling with a seton in? What to pack, how to handle sitz baths on the road, plane and road trip tips, and why it's easier than you fear.
Real Talk
Dating, Relationships, and Intimacy With a Fistula: What People Actually Say
Dating, sex, and intimacy with a fistula or seton: what people in recovery communities actually say about disclosure, partners, and the fear of being undatable.
Real Talk
My Seton Fell Out: Here's What Actually Happened
My seton slipped out on its own and I needed another surgery to replace it. Here's how it happened, the wait, and why it's not the disaster it feels like.
Long Term Management
How to Do a Sitz Bath Properly (The Step-by-Step Nobody Gave Me)
A plain-English sitz bath walkthrough: basin vs. tub, water temperature, how often, and how long. The step-by-step nobody gave you after surgery.
Long Term Management
Exercising with a Seton: What You Can Actually Do
Can you work out with a seton in? What's realistic for walking, cardio, and lifting, what to ease back into, and the warning signs to watch for.
Surgery Prep Recovery
When Can You Go Back to Work After Fistula Surgery?
When can you go back to work after fistula surgery? Realistic timelines for seton, fistulotomy, and flap surgery, for both desk and physical jobs.
Surgery Prep Recovery
Bowel Management After Fistula Surgery: What to Expect in the First Week
What to expect from bowel movements in the first week after fistula surgery. Stool softeners, diet, the first BM, and when to call your surgeon.
Surgery Prep Recovery
How to Sit, Stand, and Sleep After Fistula Surgery
How to sit, stand, sleep, and get around after fistula surgery. Practical positioning advice for fistulotomy, seton, and flap recovery.
Surgery Prep Recovery
What to Expect After Flap Surgery for a Fistula (From Someone About to Have One)
What to Expect After Flap Surgery for a Fistula | Rear View Recovery Meta description: Advancement flap surgery is on my calendar. Here's what the research and other patients say about recovery, success rates, and the stuff surgeons gloss over
Long Term Management
The Hygiene Protocol: Keeping Clean with a Seton (Without Losing Your Mind)
Managing hygiene with a seton is a daily commitment nobody prepares you for. Here's the exact routine: sitz baths, gauze changes, and keeping the wire clean, from someone who's done it twice.
Surgery Prep Recovery
The Surgery Prep Checklist Nobody Gives You
Everything your surgeon forgot to tell you to buy, arrange, and set up before fistula surgery. The prep list that actually matters.